Soon I Will Be Invincible: A Book.

I read a review for this book in last weeks "Book Review" edition of the Reader. It's called "Soon I Will Be Invincible" by Austin Grossman. I have to admit, I am really interested in picking this thing up.


Here's the plot synopsis from Amazon.com.

The realm of comic book heroes and villains gets a dose of realism in this whimsical debut from game design consultant Grossman. The story shifts between the perspectives of Doctor Impossible, a brilliant scientist turned world's greatest menace, and Fatale, a lonely cyborg and the newest addition to the venerable group of heroes known as the Champions. Though he's been out of commission for a while, Doctor Impossible hatches a scheme to knock the planet out of orbit ("As the Earth grows colder, my power becomes apparent, and the nations submit," he reasons). Meanwhile, Champions leader Corefire goes missing, and Fatale has to learn the ropes of superherodom as the conventional climactic showdown (at Doctor Impossible's secret lair) draws near. However fantastical, the characters (including a "genetic metahuman" and "an elite fairy guard") are thoughtfully portrayed, with Fatale—stuck in a perpetual existential crisis—bemused over the Champions' purpose, and Doctor Impossible wondering "whether the smartest man in the world has done the smartest thing he could with his life." Grossman dabbles in a host of themes—power, greed, fame, the pitfalls of ego—in this engrossing page-turner, broadening the appeal of an already inviting scenario.

You can read an actual excerpt from the book here.

I also read in the Reader review that one of the characters in the Champions, is a half man/ half tiger who suffers chronic back pain from the habit of walking upright. That kills me. That sort of logical extension of the fantastical world of comics is what I enjoyed most about books like "Astro City" and "Tom Strong" and movies like "The Incredibles". I think that this book is going to be a natural extension of those earlier works.

Anyways, I emailed Borders, down by where I am working today and asked them to reserve a copy for me. I still have a gift card in my wallet from January that I haven't used. I think I've been waiting until now for a reason to use it. I think I've been waiting for this book to come along.

Cheers,
Mr.B

PS. Borders had this delightful little article in their email to me about the book. I thought I'd reprint it here for your enjoyment.


Doctor Impossible's Six Rules for Supervillain Survival
by Doctor Impossible


1. Never tell them your plan.
I know it's hard. Heroes don't make plans, they just smash other people's. So they're not going to appreciate the fourth stage, when the orbital lasers come together perfectly and start boiling off the atmosphere. But now it's never going to happen. Because� you told them your plan.

2. Never team up.
Crime is kind of lonely. You catch yourself thinking things, like, "Nechrotron does such great work with undead. He's probably not such a bad guy to have a beer with� we should team up! Like the heroes do!" Yeah, Nechrotron feeds on the human soul. He has a skull for a head. He doesn't want to hang out or steal stuff with you, or high-five you after a big job. He doesn't even have real hands.

3. Never take off your mask.
You want them to know, really know, who it's been all this time. That the nerd they laughed at in high school grew up to be the finest scientific mind on the planet and built enormous gleaming machines that held the world in awe. Guess what? They totally forgot about you. They'll just catalog your retinas and that'll be a problem down the road.

4. Never date another supervillain.
See above. Recipe for tears. Trust me.

5. Never tell your nemesis "We are not so different, you and I�"
Because�guess what?�you really are quite different. You've got reasons for what you do, you're smarter, you're angrier, and maybe a little bit crazy. That's why they're punching you in the face. That's why they're living in a gleaming anti-crime satellite, and you're in jail. Which brings us to my final rule.

6. Never give up.
Never, ever, give up. So what if you're in jail? You're the villain, and yes, you're going to fight a hundred battles and lose every one. You're not a hero. But someday�maybe�you'll conquer the world.